Heinfels Castle 2024: A summer full of diversity

On 2 May, the castle will open its doors again as normal. A varied programme awaits guests. In addition to a busy museum programme, numerous events are planned until the end of August, as well as some private celebrations such as civil weddings or free weddings.

 

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the municipality of Heinfels, a special exhibition will be shown in the future tavern in the west wing of the castle. ‘Panzendorf und Tessenberg im Lichtbild / 50 Jahre Gemeinde Heinfels’ - the special exhibition of the Tyrolean Photo Archive (TAP), created in collaboration with the Heinfels Castle Museum Association, will show the visual history before and after 1 January 1974, when Panzendorf and Tessenberg merged to form the new municipality of ‘Heinfels’.

The museum year promises plenty of variety. ‘Several events are planned with the “East Tyrolean Cultural Network”, including the East Tyrolean Museum Days in May and the Children's Summer University in July. During the main season, special children's tours of the castle take place every week,’ says museum director Ramona Hofmann.

Ansicht von Heinfels, 1929

The vernissage for this year's special exhibition ‘Panzendorf und Tessenberg im Lichtbild / 50 Jahre Gemeinde Heinfels’ will take place at Heinfels Castle on 7 June.

 

Klangvielfalt: Musikgenuss aus Vorarlberg, Wien, Salzburg und Tirol

The ‘Heinfels Castle Summer’, which has now made a name for itself in East Tyrolean cultural life, is already entering its fourth season this year. Several concerts will take place in the inner and outer castle courtyard as well as in the castle's Long Hall.

'Di Vógaiga’ from South Tyrol will kick things off on 21 June, presenting their new programme in Heinfels. The meeting of Philipp Lingg and Christoph Mateka as the duo ‘Laut:Los’ promises to be a special concert experience. Lingg was once on the road with his band HMBC ‘vo Mello bis ge Schoppernou’, now the singer and multi-instrumentalist from the Bregenzerwald (Vorarlberg) is playing together with Mateka from Vienna in the historic walls.

Laut:Los

The musicians of the duo Laut:Los will be coming to Heinfels from Vorarlberg and Vienna on 12 July.

 

Other guests include Waldauf3, The Runway Quartet and the Da Ponte Consort Salzburg, an ensemble under the direction of Heinfels native Peter Peinstingl, who is also the Abbey Music Director of St Peter's Abbey in Salzburg.

In the first half of June, Heinfels Castle will also host the International Choir Festival, the ‘Landesmusikschule Sillian-Pustertal’ and the vokalissimo chamber choir from Lienz.

 

Chörefestival

In 2023, the International Choir Festival was already hosted in the fantastic setting of the castle.

Thorsteinn Einarsson will be playing big at the end of the ‘Heinfels Castle Summer’. The Austrian-Icelandic pop musician, known from the casting show ‘Die große Chance’ and his hit ‘Leya’, will delight the young audience in particular on 30 August. Peter Leiter, President of the Museum Association: ‘This year we have once again succeeded in putting together a varied programme. Tickets for the many events have been available since the beginning of April.’

Thorsteinn Einarsson

Thorsteinn Einarsson: With ‘Leya’, ‘Shackles’ or ‘Kryptonite’, the singer from Salzburg is a popular regular guest on radio stations.

 

Sporting challenge

Of course, there will also be plenty of sport: at the ‘5th Heinfels Tower Run’ in July, numerous runners will once again tackle the challenging route from the historic ‘Punbrugge’ to the highest point, the keep. The aim is to match the fabulous time of Julian Clemens - winner of the 2023 Turmlauf - of just over six minutes. The motivated athletes will be cheered on by the knight group ‘Die Dreschflegel’ from Wattens. They are also part of the colourful supporting programme this year.

Turmlauf

The tower run is once again a sporting highlight for young and old athletes this year.

Perspectives

The long-planned renovation of the catering facilities in the west wing will begin in autumn. ‘Museum and event operations will continue as normal over the next two years. From July 2026, the new restaurant will be an important pillar in the castle's overall offering,’ Peter Leiter is convinced.

 

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The year of events at Heinfels Castle has already begun unofficially with the impressive laser show ‘The castle awakens’. On 2 May, the castle opens its doors again as planned.

We start the new museum season with motivation on May 2, 2024. In winter, we will continue to open the castle to groups of 10 people or more by prior arrangement, but we are also happy to open it to fewer people at a fixed price.

This year was characterized by a lively museum, concerts, exhibitions and exciting activities at Heinfels Castle. The castle remains an important cultural hotspot in East Tyrol and beyond.

"The Runway Quartet" brought Broadway to Tyrol on July 8: Dragan Trajkovski, Robert Gmachl-Pammer, Craig Hansford and Florian Bramböck provided enthusiasm and many encores in front of a sold-out venue.

On May 4, Heinfels Castle starts again into a new museum and event season. A colorful and varied program should attract many visitors. For the first time, a special exhibition will be shown in the rooms of the future castle tavern together with the Tyrolean Photo Archive (TAP).

The kestrels at Heinfels Castle have had their nesting place for many years in a niche in the wall of the kitchen tower built in the 14th century. Every year four to five young falcons hatch and start their first flight attempts. For the first time, the falcons can be observed live via a newly installed "falcon cam."

We are officially on winter break since November 6 and will start motivated on May 4, 2023 in the new museum season. In winter we continue to open the castle for groups of 10 people or more by appointment!

After last year's launch, the "Heinfelser Burgweihnacht" (Christmas at Heinfels Castle) will take place for the second time in a historical setting: The local associations invite you to Heinfels Castle on 17 and 18 December for an enjoyable day of festivities.

We are pleased with architect Gerhard Mitterberger about the "Award of the Province of Tyrol for New Building 2022", which was awarded on November 10 in Innsbruck.

Little concerts by outstanding ensembles in a historical setting - this is the motto of the performances during the Heinfels Castle Summer 2022. The inner courtyard and the "Langer Saal" serve as venues for a special musical treat in the largest castle complex in the Puster Valley.

Every Thursday evening is the "Long Night" at Heinfels Castle. A special experience for all who want to enjoy the medieval castle at a late hour.

After two successful events, the third edition of the spectacular running event "Count of Castle 2022" will take place on 1 July 2022. The start is at the historic "Punbrugge", the finish again the last level of the keep. The sprinters have to cover a distance of 1.1 km, 140 metres in altitude and 265 steps to get there.